RoadVitals

1998 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
43
Latest Apr 30, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags918.8%
  • Brakes816.7%
  • Engine612.5%
  • Transmission612.5%
  • Interior & seats510.4%
  • Body & structure36.3%
  • Visibility36.3%
  • Other / unspecified24.2%
  • Fuel system24.2%
  • Tires & wheels24.2%
  • Seat belts12.1%
  • Driver assistance12.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER STATES BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID 565819 · filed May 20, 2002

WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED MIRAGE. IMPACT PUSHED VEHICLE INTO A VAN. AFTER IMPACTING VAN, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, HAD EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID 8007311 · filed Apr 10, 2002
All 9 reports naming airbags

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE THE DRIVER HIT A PILLAR. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGER'S WERE INJURED. *NM

NHTSA ID 10057333 · filed Feb 2, 2004

1998 MITSUBISH MIRAGE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DONE 2 TIMES IN 10,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID 10037096 · filed Sep 2, 2003
All 8 reports naming brakes

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY MIRAGE HAS LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT. WITHOUT SYMPTOMS OR WARNING, THE CAR OVERHEATED AND DESTROYED TWO HEAD GASKETS AND POSSIBLY BROKE THE PLATE. THAT'S CATASROPHIC DAMAGE! IT'S BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HARDLY DRIVEN. AT LESS THAN 72,000 MILES IT WILL COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN IT'S WORTH. THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER! IT JUST DIED ON THE FREEWAY, GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. THE RADIATOR WORKED PERFECTLY! OF COURSE MITSUBISHI JUST TRIED TOV SELL ME A NEW ONE. THEY COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS.

NHTSA ID 10887660 · filed Jul 22, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL 00 V 311 001 DEFECT OCCURRED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHECK THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY AND INDICATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND DIDN'T NEED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID 10031535 · filed Jul 30, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SINCE THE THIRD DAY OF PURCHASE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THE SALESMAN ALL THE PROBLEMS AND HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAS A NEW INVERT SYSTEM AND IT WILL GET USED TO THE WAY I DRIVE THE CAR. BEFORE THE MONTH OF PURCHASED, THE CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVEN AND IT HAD TO BE TOWERED TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ALARM SYSTEM. THEY CHANGED THE CABLES RELATED TO THE ALARM, BUT AFTER THAT THE CAR I TOOK THE CAR MANY TIMES TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE CAR SHIFT THE GEARS NO MATTERS THE SPEED. WHILE STOP ON THE RED LIGHT, THE CAR GIVE A BUMP LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. MANY TIMES THE ENGINE STOP WHILE I WAS WAITING THE RED LIGHT TO CHANGE OR DOING A STOP SIGNAL. BESIDES THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP USED TO TURN ON AND ONCE THEY CLEARED THE COMPUTER. THEN WHEN THE CAR WAS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY ADMITTED THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION AND PROCEEDED TO FIXED. THIS WAS ON JULY 2001 AND THE CAR STILL GOES WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID 761341 · filed Apr 29, 2002

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK INTO GEARS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID 884991 · filed Apr 3, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON THE JUNE 5 AROUND 6:25 IN THE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 65 MHP WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE HOOD OF MY CAR (MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 98') FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETLY SMASHING IT AND BLOCKING MY VIEW.AS GLASS WAS SHATTERING INTO MY FACE I MANAGE TO PULL OFF FROM THE CROWDED FREEWAY AND CALL 911 AND THEY ADVISED ME TO STAY IN THE CAR AND WAIT FOR THE POLICE TO ARRIVE, ONLY WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED AND MY FEAR SUBSIDED WAS THAT I REALIZED HOW MUCH IT HAD DAMAGED MY CAR AND HOW LUCKY I WAS TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS EVENT. THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE STARTED TO DO A REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT AND TOLD ME THE HOOD LATCH APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN FROM THE CROSSMEMBER THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO, THEN WE PROCCIDED TO GET MY CAR TOWED AWAY AND FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE. LOOKING BACK ON TH EVENTS ON THAT MORNING IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE TURNED TRAGIC AND WANT TO MAKE OTHER OWNERS AWARE THAT THIS VERY WELL COULD HAPPEN TO THEM TOO, I ALSO WANT MITSUBISHI TO LOOK INTO THIS THAT BASED ON WHAT I THINK IS A MANUFACTURES FAILURE THAT COULD COST MANY PEOPLES LIVES. I CAN'T SEEM TO IMAGINE THAT A CAR THAT IS 7 YEARS OLD IS COMING APART. AS OF TODAY JUNE 10 THERE IS NO WORD ON HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST TO FIX IT BUT IT APPEARS THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED TO THE REST OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID 10124985 · filed Jun 11, 2005

I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 MIRAGE. THIS WINTER MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BECAME HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE (STIFF). EVENTUALLY, MY OPEN DOOR LIGHT BECAME PERMANENTLY ACTIVATED. AFTER THAT, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE APPROPRIATELY. IT SEEMED IT WAS HANGING DOWN AND BEGAN RUBBING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT WHEN THE DOOR FELL ON ME. I HAD TO USE A JACK TO RAISE AND CLOSE IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI. I ASKED IF THEY HAD HEARD OF ANY SUCH INCIDENTS. HE RESPONDED, HE HAD NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE IT BUT REFERRED ME TO MY NEAREST MITSUBISHI DEALER. I TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER 2 YEARS AGO THAT AFFECTED THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY BUMPER. I EXPLAINED THIS TO HIM BUT HE WOULD NOT DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DOOR PROBLEM IS IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 10116545 · filed Apr 7, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE PROBLEM. DOOR WAS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OR CLOSE FOR ONE MONTH, THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE ENOUGH TO TURN OFF THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR. AFTER TAKING IT TO A BODY SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE HINGE WAS THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID 10143922 · filed Nov 29, 2005

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS HAVE BEGAN TO FALL AT HINGES. DOORS ARE UNALIGNED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID 882820 · filed Mar 13, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING 55 - 60 MPH REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER. METALLIC STRIPPING ON THE WINDOW WAS RED BEFORE THE WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID 10101666 · filed Nov 26, 2004

THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR BURNED OUT. *NLM

NHTSA ID 10019704 · filed May 13, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BOTH FRONT TIRES STARTED TO SHAKE, HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED, ETC. MECHANIC PUT THEM ON BACK. THEY SHAKE LIKE UNREAL. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT DID NOT DO THIS (BOUGHT USED). IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE. DT

NHTSA ID 769443 · filed Nov 7, 2002

WITHIN LAST YEAR AND A HALF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID 861645 · filed May 9, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING. DEALER STATED THAT FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AKTHE GAS TANK AND THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT UPON INSPECTION SINCE THE FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED, MITSUBISHI DECIDED THE FUEL TANK WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *JG

NHTSA ID 8014360 · filed Jul 19, 2002

THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR FOUND FAULT WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS POORLY DESIGNED. NLM

NHTSA ID 560355 · filed Mar 14, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DEFECTIVE TIRE BLEW OUT - NOT SURE OF CAUSE (TREAD SEPARATION, SIDEWALL CRACKS, ETC.) INCIDENT TOSSED PASSENGERS VIOLENTLY ABOUT THE CAR - CAR SLIGHT AIRBORNE DAMAGED WIRES UNDER HOOD OF CAR; CAR TOTALED

NHTSA ID 11091060 · filed Apr 30, 2018

CONSUMER WAS SELF INSPECTNG TIRES, AND NOTICED THAT TREAT ON TWO FRONT TIRES AND REAR TIRE WAS SEPARATING. GENERAL TIRE, DOT ACP2N71200XP2000. *AK

NHTSA ID 897893 · filed Oct 17, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN TRAILER TRUCK VEERED INTO HER LANE. THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION ZONE LANE. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS FORCED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. DUAL AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID 866883 · filed Aug 4, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS BACKING UP & HEARD A POP, THEN DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED BACKWARDS. FOOT WENT STRAIGHT OUT, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. DRIVER SEAT CAN BE PUT BACK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID 877277 · filed Jan 2, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .